Leah White, Student Number: LEWHI33756
Unit 4 – Support Health and Safety in a Learning Environment
Q1.1 Identify legislation in relation to health and safety in a learning environment.
Health and Safety at work Act 1974
- To take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and those around you and
affected by your work
- To co-operate with any relevant authorities to meet statutory requirements
- To only use things provided in the interests of health, safety and welfare for their intended
purposes
- To make sure you are aware of all safety rules, procedures and safe working practices that
apply to your post, and if unsure to immediately seek clarification
- To ensure that all tools and equipment are in good condition, reporting any faults or defects
to the relevant person immediately
- To use protective clothing and safety equipment provided
- To ensure accidents are reported accordingly, regardless of whether injury was caused
- To report potential hazards to the relevant person
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
Supports the Health and Safety at Work Act in its regulations by setting out the requirements of risk
assessments and health and safety training. By following the Management of Health and Safety at
Work Regulations, you should be able to recognise risks in a learning environment and know what
actions to take to minimise these risks.
Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) regulations 1992
These regulations clarify existing legislation and establish a consistent set of standards for most
workplaces. The regulations also expand on the responsibilities that employers have, including:
- Health and safety in the workplace including provision and standard of welfare facilities for
people at work and required maintenance of the workplace.
- The workplace and equipment need to be maintained and in working order. Buildings should
be in good state of repair and services should be in order.
- Environmental requirements of the regulations are to be applied to the workplace, but in an
educational setting, existing educational standards such as temperature and ventilation are
more relevant and appropriate.
Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999
These regulations provide the statutory requirements for the minimum standards for all schools. The
regulations include a requirement that all places in a school must be maintained to ensure the
health, safety and welfare of any person present. The regulations also include requirements relating
to acoustics, ancillary facilities, drainage, heating, lighting, medical accommodation, washrooms,
staff accommodation, structural matters, ventilation, and water supply.
Children and Families Act 2014, section 100
Provides guidance on the management and storage of medicines and states that schools have a duty
to support children at school with medical conditions so that they have the opportunity to learn to
their full potential. This act outlines that school’s policies regarding medication must contain
detailed information about how the school is informed of the medical conditions of a child, how
medication is managed in school, and state how staff should support the child in assisting with
medication. An individual should be responsible for the policy and all staff should know what their
roles and responsibilities are with regards to medication. The policy should also detail what to do in
case of an emergency, and how medication is managed when not at school, for example on a school
trip.
Health and Safety (First Aid) regulations 1981
, Leah White, Student Number: LEWHI33756
These regulations require employers to:
- Ensure that any employee who is injured or unwell at work is immediately seen to
- Conduct first aid assessments of the workplace
- Provide employees with first aid training
- Provide adequate first aid equipment, facilities and personnel
These regulations deal only with employees and do not cover visitors or pupils, however regardless
of this, under the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employers have a duty to
ensure the health and safety of anybody on their premises.
School staff must be aware of who their first aiders are and there must be agreed procedures in
place for dealing with a range of emergencies. To ensure this, it is a requirement that First Aid
notices are displayed highlighting who is first aid trained, where they may be found, and the details
and locations of first aid equipment. A minimum of one person with a current paediatric first aid
certificate must be on the premises when children are present.
RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations)
The RIDDOR legislation requires any of the below to be reported upon:
- Death
- Specified injuries:
- Over 7 day injuries
- Injuries that lead to the incapacitation of a worker for over sever consecutive days
- Non-fatal accidents that occur in the workplace to non-workers
- Occupation disease
- Dangerous occurrences
The majority of incidents that happen in school’s do not need to be reported under RIDDOR,
however records must still be kept detailing and accident or incident so that any common risks can
be identified, and preventative measures put in place. For example, if there are several reports of
children tripping over a loose slab on the playground, it is clear that work needs to be undertaken to
make the slab level to prevent further incidents.
RIDDOR policy states that
COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002)
These are a set of regulations and procedures that ensure people are kept safe when exposed to
hazardous substances. Hazardous substances include chemicals, gases, and fumes. COSHH is a legal
responsibility for employers and ensures that they risk assess by identifying hazards, identifying
those at risk, and taking precautions. Possible hazardous substances in a school may be cleaning
products or science lab chemicals.
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
These regulations apply to any and all manual handling activities. The regulations require employers
to:
- Avoid the need for hazardous manual handling
- Assess the risk of injury from any hazardous manual handling that was not avoidable
- Reduce the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling
The regulations require employees to:
- Follow the provided systems of work outlined for their safety
- Use equipment provided for their safety correctly and when necessary
- Inform the employer if hazardous handling is identified
- Ensure their own actions do not put others at risk1
1
iHasco, What are the main regulations that apply to schools?,
https://www.ihasco.co.uk/blog/entry/2718/regulations-that-apply-to-schools
Unit 4 – Support Health and Safety in a Learning Environment
Q1.1 Identify legislation in relation to health and safety in a learning environment.
Health and Safety at work Act 1974
- To take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and those around you and
affected by your work
- To co-operate with any relevant authorities to meet statutory requirements
- To only use things provided in the interests of health, safety and welfare for their intended
purposes
- To make sure you are aware of all safety rules, procedures and safe working practices that
apply to your post, and if unsure to immediately seek clarification
- To ensure that all tools and equipment are in good condition, reporting any faults or defects
to the relevant person immediately
- To use protective clothing and safety equipment provided
- To ensure accidents are reported accordingly, regardless of whether injury was caused
- To report potential hazards to the relevant person
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
Supports the Health and Safety at Work Act in its regulations by setting out the requirements of risk
assessments and health and safety training. By following the Management of Health and Safety at
Work Regulations, you should be able to recognise risks in a learning environment and know what
actions to take to minimise these risks.
Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) regulations 1992
These regulations clarify existing legislation and establish a consistent set of standards for most
workplaces. The regulations also expand on the responsibilities that employers have, including:
- Health and safety in the workplace including provision and standard of welfare facilities for
people at work and required maintenance of the workplace.
- The workplace and equipment need to be maintained and in working order. Buildings should
be in good state of repair and services should be in order.
- Environmental requirements of the regulations are to be applied to the workplace, but in an
educational setting, existing educational standards such as temperature and ventilation are
more relevant and appropriate.
Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999
These regulations provide the statutory requirements for the minimum standards for all schools. The
regulations include a requirement that all places in a school must be maintained to ensure the
health, safety and welfare of any person present. The regulations also include requirements relating
to acoustics, ancillary facilities, drainage, heating, lighting, medical accommodation, washrooms,
staff accommodation, structural matters, ventilation, and water supply.
Children and Families Act 2014, section 100
Provides guidance on the management and storage of medicines and states that schools have a duty
to support children at school with medical conditions so that they have the opportunity to learn to
their full potential. This act outlines that school’s policies regarding medication must contain
detailed information about how the school is informed of the medical conditions of a child, how
medication is managed in school, and state how staff should support the child in assisting with
medication. An individual should be responsible for the policy and all staff should know what their
roles and responsibilities are with regards to medication. The policy should also detail what to do in
case of an emergency, and how medication is managed when not at school, for example on a school
trip.
Health and Safety (First Aid) regulations 1981
, Leah White, Student Number: LEWHI33756
These regulations require employers to:
- Ensure that any employee who is injured or unwell at work is immediately seen to
- Conduct first aid assessments of the workplace
- Provide employees with first aid training
- Provide adequate first aid equipment, facilities and personnel
These regulations deal only with employees and do not cover visitors or pupils, however regardless
of this, under the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employers have a duty to
ensure the health and safety of anybody on their premises.
School staff must be aware of who their first aiders are and there must be agreed procedures in
place for dealing with a range of emergencies. To ensure this, it is a requirement that First Aid
notices are displayed highlighting who is first aid trained, where they may be found, and the details
and locations of first aid equipment. A minimum of one person with a current paediatric first aid
certificate must be on the premises when children are present.
RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations)
The RIDDOR legislation requires any of the below to be reported upon:
- Death
- Specified injuries:
- Over 7 day injuries
- Injuries that lead to the incapacitation of a worker for over sever consecutive days
- Non-fatal accidents that occur in the workplace to non-workers
- Occupation disease
- Dangerous occurrences
The majority of incidents that happen in school’s do not need to be reported under RIDDOR,
however records must still be kept detailing and accident or incident so that any common risks can
be identified, and preventative measures put in place. For example, if there are several reports of
children tripping over a loose slab on the playground, it is clear that work needs to be undertaken to
make the slab level to prevent further incidents.
RIDDOR policy states that
COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002)
These are a set of regulations and procedures that ensure people are kept safe when exposed to
hazardous substances. Hazardous substances include chemicals, gases, and fumes. COSHH is a legal
responsibility for employers and ensures that they risk assess by identifying hazards, identifying
those at risk, and taking precautions. Possible hazardous substances in a school may be cleaning
products or science lab chemicals.
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
These regulations apply to any and all manual handling activities. The regulations require employers
to:
- Avoid the need for hazardous manual handling
- Assess the risk of injury from any hazardous manual handling that was not avoidable
- Reduce the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling
The regulations require employees to:
- Follow the provided systems of work outlined for their safety
- Use equipment provided for their safety correctly and when necessary
- Inform the employer if hazardous handling is identified
- Ensure their own actions do not put others at risk1
1
iHasco, What are the main regulations that apply to schools?,
https://www.ihasco.co.uk/blog/entry/2718/regulations-that-apply-to-schools
